Context-based graphical view navigation guidance system

Abstract

System and methods for context-based view navigation guidance system for large virtual displays, 360° media, and three-dimensional virtual models. Guidance map comprises graphical objects that represent the virtual display and the screen view. The guidance map may be placed in a heads-up display layer within a relatively small user defined area of the physical display to provide a context-based indication of the current position of the screen view and the magnification level, with minimal obstruction of the contents information. Colors selections for the guidance map graphical objects may be automatically determined based on the background colors in the main display layer beneath the map. The position of the guidance map may be dynamically changed during the view navigation to minimize obstruction of the contents information.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for context-based view navigation of a virtual display on the screen view of a physical display, the method comprising:
 generating a first graphical object representing said virtual display;   generating a second graphical object representing said screen view having a frame corresponding to the shape of said screen view;   rendering a guidance map on a graphic layer showing said second graphical object over said first graphical object, wherein said second graphical object encompasses the area of said first graphical object that represents the portion of said virtual display shown on said screen view;   displaying said graphic layer with said guidance map as a heads-up display layer on said screen view;   detecting changes in the relation between said screen view and said virtual display; and   updating said guidance map in response to said detected changes to reflect the position and size of said screen view relative to said virtual display.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein said second graphical object shows a scaled down image of said screen view. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2 , further comprising applying a graphic filter to said scaled down image of said screen view. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein said first graphical object having a frame corresponding to the shape and size of said virtual display. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 4 , wherein said first graphical object shows a scaled down full image of said virtual display. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 5 , further comprising applying a graphic filter to said image of said virtual display. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein said virtual display is a three-dimensional virtual model that is captured on said screen view from a user selected virtual viewing direction and a user selected virtual viewing distance, and wherein said first graphical object comprising a scale down full image of said virtual model taken at said user selected virtual viewing direction. 
     
     
         8 . A computer-implemented method for context-based view navigation of a 360° virtual display by the screen view of a physical display, the method comprising:
 dividing said 360° virtual display into two contiguous sections wherein the first section is the 180° front view of said virtual display and the second section is the 180° back view of said virtual display so that said screen view displays the contents at the horizontal center of said 180° front view section; 
 generating a first graphical object representing said 180° front view section; 
 generating a second graphical object representing said 180° back view section; 
 generating a third graphical object representing said screen view having a frame corresponding to the shape of said screen view; 
 rendering a guidance map on said physical display comprising said first and second graphical objects whereby one of said first and second graphical object is placed substantially above the other along the vertical direction of said physical display; 
 adding said third graphical object to said guidance map over the horizontal center of said first graphical object so that said third graphical object encompasses the contents of said 180° front view section that are displayed on said screen view; 
 detecting changes in the virtual viewing direction and the view magnification; and 
 updating said guidance map in response to said detected changes. 
 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , further displaying a graphic layer with said guidance map as a heads-up display layer over a portion of said screen view. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein said first graphical object is a projection of the contents of said 180° front view section on a substantially concave surface, and wherein said second graphical object is a projection of the contents of said 180° back view section on a substantially convex surface. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , wherein said substantially concave surface resembles the inner surface of a half cylinder, and wherein said substantially convex surface resembles the outer surface of a half cylinder. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , wherein said substantially concave surface resembles the inner surface of a half sphere, and wherein said substantially convex surface resembles the outer surface of a half sphere. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , wherein said concave surface and said convex surface are flattened to minimize the shrinkage of the projected contents of said virtual display near the overlapping edges of said surfaces. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein said first graphical object is rendered vertically above said second graphical object. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , further comprising updating said guidance map when said contents of said 360° virtual display change. 
     
     
         16 . A view navigation guidance system for three-dimensional virtual models comprising:
 one or more processors;   a display coupled to said one or more processors;   a storage device coupled to said one or more processors for storing executable code to interface with said display, the executable code comprising:
 code for representing and rendering a three-dimensional virtual model on said display; 
 code for navigating the screen view of said display over said virtual model by changing the virtual viewing direction and the virtual viewing distance; 
 code for rendering a guidance map on a graphical layer, said guidance map comprising a first view and a second view, said first view is a full image of said virtual model taken at said virtual viewing direction, said second view is having a frame corresponding to the shape of said screen view and is placed over said first view so that it encompasses the portion of the contents of said first view that are shown by said screen view; 
 code for displaying said graphic layer with said guidance map as a heads-up display layer on said screen view; 
 code for detecting changes in said virtual viewing direction and said virtual viewing distance; and 
 code for updating said guidance map in response to said detected changes. 
   
     
     
         17 . The view navigation guidance system of  claim 16 , wherein the executable code further comprising a code for applying a graphic filter to said first view. 
     
     
         18 . The view navigation guidance system of  claim 16 , wherein said second view is a frame with a transparent interior showing the contents of said first view under said frame. 
     
     
         19 . The view navigation guidance system of  claim 18 , wherein the executable code further comprising a code for dynamically selecting the color of said frame. 
     
     
         20 . The view navigation guidance system of  claim 18 , wherein the executable code further comprising a code for applying a graphic filter to said contents of said first view under said frame. 
     
     
         21 . The view navigation guidance system of  claim 16 , wherein the executable code further comprising a code for dynamically changing the location of said guidance map over said screen view.